Ernest Orlando Lawrence founded what is now Berkeley Lab, the oldest of the national laboratories, in 1931. Lawrence invented the cyclotron, which led to a Golden Age of particle physics and revolutionary discoveries about the nature of the universe. Since the 1970s, the Laboratory's mission has expanded with its programs. Of the nine Nobel Prizes awarded to Berkeley Lab scientists, five were in physics and four in chemistry. Today, as one of five multiprogram science laboratories in the U.S. Department of Energy national system, research is conducted to serve America's needs in fields such as fundamental science, biosciences and health, materials and chemistry, computational science, and energy and earth sciences.

Berkeley Lab is located on a hillside above one of the world's great universities -- the University of California at Berkeley. Berkeley Lab employs more than 4,000 people, including 800 students and post-doctoral associates. Each year, the Lab also hosts more than 2,000 participating guests. Berkeley Lab is managed by the University of California for Department of Energy.

Berkeley Lab's energy efficiency research development, conducted by over 400 scientists, leads to better energy technologies, policies and market mechanisms that reduce adverse energy-related environmental impacts. Their work increases the efficiency of energy use, reduces its environmental effects, provides the nation with economic benefits, and helps developing nations achieve similar goals through technical advice. Activities range from the development of window and lighting systems to the assessment of air pollutant exposures and health risks. The work includes the analysis of the potential savings in energy and pollutant emissions from specific energy efficiency measures in residential buildings, commercial buildings, industrial, utility and transportation sectors. The 20% Solution web site is an extension of this research.

Primary funding for national and international energy efficiency projects is provided by the Department of Energy, with additional funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Agency for International Development, a number of foundations, and more than a dozen other organizations. In recent years, increasing funding for California-related projects has been provided by the California Energy Commission, in-state utility companies, and the California Institute for Energy Efficiency. This web site reflects Berkeley Lab's commitment to helping California address its energy challenges.